Martin Guptill scored half-century to guide New Zealand 90-run victory against Zimbabwe

Guptill (70) stitched up 88 runs alongside Kane Williamson (36) for third wickets to help New Zealand manage 248 runs after they were forced to bat.

Nicol, playing his fourth one-dayer, then recorded his first four-wicket haul (4-19) to skittle out Zimbabwe for 158 with Kyle Mills claiming three wickets for 26.

Skipper Brendan Taylor (58) was the only man who demonstrated some resistance with a brave fifty.

Mills removed Stuart Matsikenyeri with the last ball of the opening over and, after Matsikenyeri’s opening partner Hamilton Masakadza was run out for 7, he then got rid of Regis Chakabva to leave Zimbabwe 15-3 in the seventh over.

New Zealand VS Zimbabwe: Taylor, Taibu added 52 runs

Forbidding the tumble of wickets, Taylor launched a strong recovery in the company of Tatenda Taibu (20) and added 52 runs for fourth wicket before debutant seamer Andrew Ellis claimed latter caught by Williamson at point.

Nicol extended the tourists’ misery by dismissing the dangerman Taylor four overs later. His 68-ball knock was studded with eight boundaries and a six.

No other batsman was able to offer resistance afterwards as Malcolm Waller (12), Elton Chigumbura (15), Keegan Meth (10), Shingirai Masakadza (2), and Kyle Jarvis (2) capitulated meekly.

New Zealand VS Zimbabwe: Guptill hit 10 boundaries

Earlier, debutant seamer Shingirai Masakadza claimed 4-46 as Zimbabwe bundled out New Zealand in the 49th over of its innings on a greenish pitch.

The hosts triggered the proceedings miserably and lost its first two wickets for four runs in the first eight balls of the innings but thanks largely to Guptill-Williamson association, who adopted a levelheaded approach and drove up the score to 92-2 before Masakadza captured a popped catch of later.

Guptill brought up his 13th ODI half-century in 82 minutes from only 44 balls with seven boundaries and slashed three more fours before being bowled out off Chigumbura, who struck again an over later to claim Tom Latham (24).

Masakadza uprooted the stumps of Nathan McCullum (30), and Ellis (33) in the successive overs before trapping Tim Southee (3) to wrap up the innings.

The match is scheduled in Whangarei on February 6. Three-match one-day series will be pursed by two Twenty20 internationals.

New Zealand VS Zimbabwe 1st ODI Scorecard